System table with coordinate-input device incorporated

ABSTRACT

A coordinate input device containing system table having a table portion for mounting thereon a monitor, a computer body and the like. The table portion includes a front table surface portion of flat and seamless as a whole, a top board having an accommodating portion formed to accommodate the coordinate input device in a lower level than the front table surface portion in a state of readiness to use, and a holding member fixed to the table portion at a reverse side thereof to support and fix the coordinate input device accommodated in the accommodated portion formed in the top board.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system table for mounting a monitorand a computer body thereon.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional system table 41 is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4-a shows thefront view thereof and FIG. 4-b shows the plan view thereof. A table 43comprises legs 35, 35, a back cover 39 and a top board 37. Mounted onthe table 43 are a monitor 45, a computer body 47 and a coordinate inputdevice 49 such as a digitizer and the like.

The coordinate input device 49 juts out from the table in front of whichan operator is seated, and as such produces level difference therebetween. The level difference forms an obstacle when the operator workson the table without using the coordinate input device 49. Also, thelevel difference produces the disadvantage that the table cannot be usedeffectively even when the operator performs computer operation using thecoordinate input device 49, thus presenting the problem of degradationof workability.

It is an object for the present invention to provide a system tablehaving the top that can be used effectively.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, in a coordinate input devicecontaining system table having a table portion for mounting thereon amonitor, a computer body and the like, the table portion comprises afront table surface portion formed to be flat and seamless as a whole, atop board integrally formed with the front table surface portion andhaving an accommodating portion formed to accommodate the coordinateinput device in a lower level than the front table surface portion in astate of readiness to use by cutting out the top board integrallycombined with the front table surface portion, and a holding memberfixed to the table portion at a reverse side thereof to support and fixthe coordinate input device accommodated in the accommodated portionformed in the top board. With this arrangement, since the front tablesurface is formed to be flat and seamless as a whole and also thecoordinate input device is accommodated in a lower level than the fronttable surface in a state of readiness to use, an operator can always usethe front table surface effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a computer system having a system table of the firstembodiment of the present invention wherein a coordinate input device ishoused. FIG. 1-a shows the front view thereof and FIG. 1-b shows theplan view thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a table portion of the system tabletaken along the line II—II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional system table. FIG. 3-a shows the front viewthereof and FIG. 3-b shows the plan view thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION EXAMPLE

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a computer system having a system table of thefirst embodiment of the present invention wherein a coordinate inputdevice is housed. FIG. 1-a shows the front view thereof and FIG. 1-bshows the plan view thereof.

The system table 1 shown in the figures comprises a table portion 3including a top board 7, right and left legs 5, 5 and a back cover 6. Amonitor 9 and associated equipment such as a computer body 11 are put onthe table 3 at a center part thereof and at a lateral side thereof,respectively. A coordinate input device 13 is built in the table portion3 at a part thereof ahead of the monitor 9.

Description on the table portion 3 will be given with reference to FIG.2 showing a sectional view of the table portion 3 of the system tabletaken along the line II—II of FIG. 1.

A table portion 3 of this embodiment is formed of plywood composed ofthree layers of an upper decorative laminate panel 23, a lowerdecorative laminate panel 25 and a top board body portion 27 sandwichedtherebetween, all of which are stuck together. The upper and lowerdecorative laminate panels 23, 25 each have thickness of 2 mm and thetop board body portion 27 has thickness of 18 mm. In this embodiment, inorder for the table portion 21 to have an accommodating portion 31 forthe coordinate input device 13, the decorative laminate panel 25 and thetop board body portion 27 are cut off from the reverse side with cuttingequipment such as a router in such a manner that the thickness of about5 mm may remain at the front side of the table portion. Fitting 33 isscrewed to the top board 7 at a reverse side thereof as a holding memberto hold the coordinate input device 13 in the accommodating portion ofthe top board. The coordinate input device 13 is fixed with its beingaccommodated in the accommodating portion 31 formed in the table 3, asdescribed above.

In the system table of the embodiment, an operator cannot visuallyrecognize in which part of the table the coordinate input device isarranged when viewed from the front surface side of the table, buthe/she can operate the coordinate input device without trouble, as longas the indication of the cursor on the monitor 9 corresponds one to oneto coordinate system of the coordinate input device 13.

The table thus constructed enables the input operation with the touchpen or the mouse running over the table surface, as is the case with theconventional table. Since the front surface of the table portion 3 isformed to be seamless and flat, the table top can be used effectively,whether or not the computer operation is performed, and as such canproduce improved workability.

It is desirable that appropriate materials be selected for the frontsurface of the table and the nib of the touch pen to prevent abrasion inlongterm operation.

CAPABILITIES OF EXPLOITATION IN INDUSTRY

According to the present invention, since the table portion of thesystem table is so structured as mentioned above, the table can be usedeffectively.

What is claimed is:
 1. A coordinate input device containing a systemtable having a table portion for mounting thereon a monitor and acomputer body, the table portion comprising: a flat and seamless fronttable surface portion; a top board having an accommodating portionformed therein to accommodate the coordinate input device in a levelthat is lower than a level of the front table surface portion, whereinthe coordinate input device is in a ready to use state; and holdingmeans fixed to a reverse side of the table portion opposite the fronttable surface portion for holding the coordinate input deviceaccommodated in the accommodating portion formed in the top board,wherein the accommodating portion is formed by cutting the reverse sideof the top board of the table portion.
 2. The system table according toclaim 1, wherein the holding means comprises a fitting that is screwedinto the top board.
 3. The system table according to claim 1, whereinthe table portion is comprised of plywood.
 4. The system table accordingto claim 3, wherein the plywood comprises an upper decorative laminatepanel attached to a top surface of the top board and a lower decorativelaminate panel attached to a lower surface of the top board.
 5. Thesystem table according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lowerdecorative laminate panels have a thickness of 2 mm and the top boardhas a thickness